CoreyH Posted February 13, 2020 Report Share Posted February 13, 2020 When drilling the hole for your ballast weight and also for putting eyes on your bait, do you use a lip & spur bit or a forstner bit? I've just been using a "standard" bit but it wants to wander too much and I like the centering point on both the lip & spur and forstner bits. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hillbilly voodoo Posted February 13, 2020 Report Share Posted February 13, 2020 I use a standard countersinking bit and widen eye sockets with different shapes of sanding stone bits Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Epp Posted February 13, 2020 Report Share Posted February 13, 2020 I prefer a forstener bit for such holes. Like you mentioned, the "standard" bit wanders a lot, and a small spade bit goes too deep in the center. I know a guy who uses a dremel sanding drum to do the eyes, but that wouldn't work for lead holes. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hillbilly voodoo Posted February 13, 2020 Report Share Posted February 13, 2020 With cedar I have no wondering issues by applying pressure creating an indentation before drilling If I need to add lead ballast to a resin bait(rarely do this anymore) I drill a shallow pilot hole so the tip of the countersink does not wonder. All you need is enough to rest the point of the countersink in to start This solves the wondering issues for me and I use a cordless drill not a drill press so it’s easy to wonder. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoreyH Posted February 13, 2020 Author Report Share Posted February 13, 2020 Thanks, I think I'll try the forstner bit and see how I like it. I have a small drill press I'm using, but I have found that my normal bit just wants to wander sometimes until I really get the hole started. I haven't made any baits with eyes yet, but watching some youtube videos it appeared a forstner bit was being used for that purpose as well. Once again, I appreciate the help! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hillbilly voodoo Posted February 13, 2020 Report Share Posted February 13, 2020 (edited) These are the best thing I have found for eye sockets. You can add a little character by changing the angles or go standard. Just have to give them a pilot to start Edited February 13, 2020 by Hillbilly voodoo 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoreyH Posted February 13, 2020 Author Report Share Posted February 13, 2020 What is that? Looks like a grinding/sanding attachment for a dremel, but I've never seen a pink one before. Where you do you get them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodieb8 Posted February 13, 2020 Report Share Posted February 13, 2020 forstner bit . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hillbilly voodoo Posted February 13, 2020 Report Share Posted February 13, 2020 (edited) 2 hours ago, CoreyH said: What is that? Looks like a grinding/sanding attachment for a dremel, but I've never seen a pink one before. Where you do you get them? They are grinding stones and they come in all kinds of shapes and sizes. Too big for a dremel but they work in a cordless drill. Most big hardware stores carry them. Edited February 13, 2020 by Hillbilly voodoo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Travis Posted February 13, 2020 Report Share Posted February 13, 2020 8 hours ago, CoreyH said: When drilling the hole for your ballast weight and also for putting eyes on your bait, do you use a lip & spur bit or a forstner bit? I've just been using a "standard" bit but it wants to wander too much and I like the centering point on both the lip & spur and forstner bits. I typically use either a forstner or a brad point and both used with a drill press I have been using a cheap set of forstner bits and they do a good job as long as I keep up with sharpening. I use a brad point bit most of the time now as the set I bought a few years ago perform flawlessly for the task. Drilling holes... doesn't get much more mundane right. I splurged a few years ago and decided to buy myself a set of Lee valley HSS imperial brad point bits. Strange doing something so simple (since child hood) and coming to the instant realization drilling the first hole that a quality bit does something so exponentially better than everything I had used in the past. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DGagner Posted February 18, 2020 Report Share Posted February 18, 2020 Forstner bit. Brad points will work well too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...